Dr. Wolfram Groschopf is a researcher at the Institute of Transport Economics and Logistics at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna). His work focuses on sustainability and digitalization in transport, logistics, and supply chain management, with expertise in quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion impacts.
Simay Doğmuş Uz is an Assistant Professor at the School of Law, İzmir University of Economics. Her academic work focuses on tax law, human rights law, and the application of blockchain technology in legal documentation. She has contributed to discussions on fundamental legal principles such as the Ne Bis in Idem doctrine and procedural rights in criminal defense. Research Interests : Tax criminal law, blockchain applications in legal systems, fundamental rights and freedoms, European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence. Key Themes : Analysis of procedural efficiency in tax disputes, examination of defender's rights in investigation phases, and state obligations regarding human rights. Her publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches combining traditional legal principles with emerging technologies.
Tijs Slaats is an Associate Professor in the Software, Data, People & Society section at the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on Business Process Management with particular emphasis on declarative and hybrid process notations to provide flexible workflow support for knowledge workers, funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research. His educational background includes: M.Sc. in Information Technology from IT University of Copenhagen Ph.D. in Computer Science from IT University of Copenhagen (supervised by Thomas Hildebrandt) Dr. Slaats specializes in declarative process modeling, particularly Dynamic Condition Response (DCR) graphs which enable flexible workflow systems. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in cross-organizational settings. Recent research extends into blockchain technologies, smart contracts, and applications in sensitive domains like asylum processing and refugee law. He combines formal methods with empirical evaluation to ensure both correctness and usability of workflow systems. His publication pattern shows increasing application of process mining techniques to blockchain technologies and socially impactful domains, while maintaining core research in Business Process Management. Notable trends include integration of DCR graphs with smart contracts, privacy-preserving techniques for asylum data, and object-centric approaches to process discovery. Research funding includes: Hybrid Business Process Management Technologies project (Danish Council for Independent Research) Technologies for Flexible Cross-organizational Case Management Systems (FLExCMS) industrial Ph.D. project Alongside his academic work, Dr. Slaats maintains strong industry connections through Exformatics A/S where he developed the DCR Graphs workflow solution (www.dcrgraphs.net), and previously worked as a software engineer in the Dutch e-commerce sector. His dual expertise in academia and industry ensures his research addresses real-world workflow challenges while maintaining theoretical rigor.
Māris Jurušs is an Associate Professor and Director of Study Programs at the Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management (FEEM) of Riga Technical University . He oversees the study programs in "Customs and Tax Administration" and "Internal Security and Civil Protection." Additionally, he serves as a member of both the RTU FEEM Council and the FEEM Scientific Council. His research focuses on tax policy , customs administration , sustainability , and public administration . He has extensive experience in national and international projects, particularly in fiscal strategies for sustainable mobility and environmental taxation. Jurušs has worked in the Tax Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance and an international audit company . He is an expert of the Latvian Science Council and actively participates in academic conferences and Erasmus+ teaching exchanges. Selected projects include: "D2_DIGITAL2": State budget funding for RTU's digital governance development (2024). "LZP-2022/1-0306": Model development for sustainable last-mile delivery in Latvia (2023–present). ESF 01000-3.1.2.-e/118": Efficient university governance development (2018–2023). "CA21133 - GLITSS": COST Action on globalization, illicit trade, sustainability, and security (2023–). His publications address topics such as excise duty harmonization for tobacco products, environmental taxation in transport, digital transformation of tax systems, and sustainable fiscal strategies . These works often intersect with European Union policy , climate change mitigation , and economic regulation .
Debarun Sarkar is a Research Fellow affiliated with the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies at the University of Bergen. He works on the ALGOFOLK project, examining sociotechnical systems and material-semiotic configurations. His research spans digital culture, AI ethics, urban studies, and cultural studies, with a focus on India and the Global South. Research Interests: Debarun focuses on the intersections between algorithms and folklore, exploring how digital technologies shape labor, creativity, and social structures. He critically analyzes blockchain adoption in India, AI auditing frameworks, and the sociopolitical implications of smart/green city initiatives. His cultural studies work includes examining heavy metal subcultures and hip-hop’s role in capitalist realism. Projects: He was co-PI for Audit4SG (2023), funded by the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab, and contributed to a Learning Analytics in Higher Education project (2022-24). Current work involves the ALGOFOLK project (Research Council of Norway and Trond Mohn Foundation funding). Education: PhD in Sociology from the University of Mumbai, where he served as a UGC Junior/Senior Research Fellow. His doctoral work engaged with urban scale debates in New Town, West Bengal.
Nicole L. Beebe is a Professor at the Alvarez College of Business, The University of Texas at San Antonio , specializing in cybersecurity, cyber analytics, and digital forensics. With over two decades of experience spanning academia, government, and industry, she has contributed extensively to research on insider threats, IoT security, and threat hunting. Ph.D. in Business Administration (Information Technology), UTSA MS in Criminal Justice, Georgia State University BS in Electrical Engineering, Michigan Technological University Her research explores cybersecurity challenges in emerging technologies, including quantum computing, IoT, and large language models. She has pioneered studies on cyberbullying dynamics, forensic automation, and AI-driven threat detection. Recent publications focus on adversarial image obfuscation , VR for security operations , IoT forensic methodologies , and deepfake detection frameworks , reflecting interdisciplinary work at the intersection of security, AI, and digital evidence. 2022 Best Paper Award, Journal of Network & Computer Applications Senior Member, IEEE and ACM Senior Fellow, Information Systems Security Association As an Associate Editor for Computers & Security , she shapes the field through peer review. Her $14M+ in funding from NSF, DHS, and DoD underscores her impact on advancing cybersecurity research and education.
Ben Livshits is a Reader in Computing at Imperial College London's Department of Computing, part of the Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on computation theory, computer software, and privacy-preserving technologies in blockchain systems. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Stanford University, 2007 Research Interests: Livshits specializes in cryptographic protocols for decentralized systems, ZK-Rollups optimization, MEV analysis, and privacy-enhancing technologies. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in blockchain scalability and security. Recent Research Trends: His 2024-2025 work emphasizes ZK-proof systems (e.g., zk-bench), MEV mitigation strategies, and formal foundations for rollups. He also explores community-driven verification (CrowdProve) and governance mechanisms for DeFi. Affiliations: He is affiliated with the Centre for Cryptocurrency Research and Engineering, contributing to interdisciplinary blockchain research. Grants & Labs: While specific grants are not listed, his work suggests involvement in Imperial's distributed systems and blockchain initiatives.
Matthew Ross is an Associate Professor of Finance in the Department of Finance and Commercial Law at the Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University. He co-founded the Sanford Center for Financial Planning and Wellness and has earned significant research grants, focusing on connecting academic theory to practical applications in finance. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Finance, Wayne State University MBA in Finance, Drexel University B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan Dr. Ross's research centers on human capital and finance education. He investigates how quantitative skills impact learning in finance courses and explores barriers and opportunities in human capital investment, particularly for adolescents and in the context of higher education decisions. His work also extends to entrepreneurial finance and the application of digital technologies in financial planning. His recent publications (2020-2023) predominantly focus on finance education, examining the role of math skills in student success and developing tools for human capital investment. Additionally, he has contributed to the discourse on digital transformation in finance and healthcare, highlighting the potential of blockchain, fintech, and AI. His earlier work (2014) addresses the intersection of politics and finance, specifically the impact of elections on military contractors' stock prices. Dr. Ross has secured significant research funding, with grants totaling six figures. Although the text does not list specific students he has advised, his focus on student learning and human capital investment indicates a commitment to mentoring the next generation of finance professionals. He co-founded the Sanford Center for Financial Planning and Wellness, which serves as a hub for research and community engagement in financial planning, reflecting his dedication to bridging academic theory with practical financial wellness initiatives.
Dr. Nils Andri Bundi is a Senior Lecturer at the ZHAW School of Engineering, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). His primary research focus includes blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), quantitative finance, and network theory. He holds a PhD in Financial Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology (2014–2022). Research interests span financial risk management, big data analytics in finance, and the application of network theory to financial systems. His work emphasizes scalable architectures for financial data analysis and real-time market monitoring. Education: PhD in Financial Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology Publications highlight contributions to cryptocurrency market analysis, big data-driven risk modeling, and SQL optimization in financial systems. Bundi is a key member of the ZHAW Data Science Laboratory and the DeFi Collective. He has contributed to projects like RENERG2 (renewable energy systems) and Real-time price anomaly detection for market data quality monitoring. His professional activities include advising startups and maintaining active roles in industry networks like the Risk- and Finance-Lab. Bundi also serves as a founder of VESU XYZ and actively engages with DeFiScan_info initiatives.
Fulya Acikgoz is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Sussex Business School, UK. She holds a PhD from the University of Bristol. Her research focuses on technology marketing, innovation management, and the application of AI and blockchain in business contexts. Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as Technovation , R&D Management , and Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research . She co-authored the book Blockchain for Tourism and Hospitality Industries . Her research interests include AI-driven service innovation, blockchain adoption in hospitality, and crisis-driven business model innovation. She teaches courses on Innovative Technologies in Contemporary Marketing and New Product Development Strategy . Notable contributions include frameworks for generative AI in tourism and studies on obsolescence risk in consumer electronics. Her recent work explores trust in AI technologies and the role of dynamic capabilities in R&D teams.
Dr. Ahmad Alsharif is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Alabama's College of Engineering. His research expertise spans applied cryptography, IoT security, cyber-physical systems security, and blockchain applications. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Benha University, Egypt, and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Tennessee Tech University. Research focuses on security challenges in critical infrastructure systems including smart grids, IoT networks, and UAV systems. Current projects investigate privacy-preserving machine learning techniques, adversarial attack resilience, secure data marketplaces, and attack detection mechanisms for distributed energy systems. His work combines cryptographic protocols with machine learning for trustworthy systems. Awards include the NSF Research Initiation Initiative Grant (NSF CRII) and Young Innovator Award from Egyptian Industrial Modernization Center.
Siri-Helen Egeland is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Law, University of Agder. Her expertise lies in intellectual property law with specialization in copyright issues affecting visual arts, street art, and emerging technologies. She researches legal challenges at the intersection of art, technology, and digital innovation. Her research explores: Copyright enforcement for anonymous artists Legal implications of NFTs for street art Augmented reality's impact on artistic rights AI-generated art ownership frameworks Egeland's publications consistently address evolving digital transformations in art markets, with particular focus on Web3 technologies and their disruption of traditional copyright paradigms.
Daswin De Silva is a Full Professor of AI and Analytics at La Trobe University, Australia, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Data Analytics and Cognition (CDAC). He also holds an Adjunct Professor position at Lulea University of Technology, Sweden. His expertise spans AI ethics, algorithm development, and applications in healthcare, energy, and education. He leads major initiatives like the La Trobe Energy AI Platform for net-zero emissions and the OptusU AI Micro-credentials program. Education: PhD in AI (Monash University, 2011). Awards include the Australian Awards for University Teaching (2021), Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award (2019), and Mid-Career Research Excellence Award (2018). Editor of five journals including IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics and Springer Discover AI. Research focuses on generative AI, ethical AI systems, and vector symbolic architectures. Recent work includes AI applications in healthcare diagnostics, energy efficiency, and smart cities. He has secured AU$14M in research funding and supervised 15 PhD completions with 10 current students. Leadership roles include Deputy Chair of La Trobe’s Research & Graduate Studies Committee and chairmanship of IEEE committees on Responsible AI and Web/Information Systems. Keynote speaker at global conferences like IEEE HSI, INDIN, and ETFA. Media engagements include ABC News, Forbes, and The Conversation.
Safa Otoum is an Assistant Professor at the College of Technological Innovation (CTI), Zayed University, UAE, and holds an adjunct role at the School of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. She is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario and a member of IEEE and ACM. Her expertise spans network security, blockchain, AI, and IoT, with a focus on intrusion detection and prevention systems. Education: She earned a M.A.Sc. (2015) and Ph.D. (2019) in Computer Engineering from the University of Ottawa, Canada, followed by postdoctoral research there. She has held roles as a data scientist at Cheetah Networks and as a researcher in reputable institutions. Research Interests: Her work emphasizes AI-driven security solutions, blockchain applications in IoT, federated learning, and sustainable smart city infrastructure. She explores machine/deep learning for cybersecurity and has pioneered architectures for secure vehicular networks and healthcare systems. Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles in top journals/conferences like IEEE Transactions on Network, ACM TOIT, and GLOBECOM. Notable contributions include highly cited blockchain surveys and award-winning intrusion detection frameworks. Awards: Recipient of prestigious scholarships (NSERC, Canada Graduate Scholarship) and grants (RIF, TII). Honored with a Best Paper Award for intrusion detection research in critical infrastructure. Service Roles: She serves as Area Editor for Springer's Cluster Computing, chairs international workshops on securing healthcare systems, and organizes conferences on network security and intelligent transportation. She also guest-edits special issues on AI-driven healthcare in journals like Electronics.
Muhammad Ajmal Azad is a Senior Lecturer in Computing at the University of Derby's College of Science and Engineering specializing in cybersecurity for distributed systems. His research develops privacy-preserving architectures for IoT, vehicular networks, and pandemic response technologies. Research focuses on: Privacy-enhancing technologies for mobile health applications Blockchain implementations in vehicular networks Trust management systems for machine-to-machine communication Security frameworks for next-generation networks Publications demonstrate consistent innovation in security protocols for emerging technologies including COVID-19 contact tracing apps and blockchain-enabled IoT ecosystems.
